Help QuickNav Adv. Options
ESV

ESV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Copy
Copy Options
Format by: Verse Paragraph
Strong's
Red Letter
Audio Bibles
Copy Options
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible

Proverbs 20 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Choose a new font size and typeface
Audio Bibles

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:1

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:2

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:2 - The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:3

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:3 - It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:4

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:4 - The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:5

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:5 - The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:6

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:6 - Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:7 - The righteous who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his children after him!

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:8

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:8 - A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:9

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:9 - Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:10

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:10 - Unequal[fn] weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:11

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:11 - Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:12

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:12 - The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the LORD has made them both.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:13

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:13 - Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:14

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:14 - “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:15

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:15 - There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:16

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:16 - Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:17

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:17 - Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:18

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:18 - Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:19

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:19 - Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:20

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:20 - If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:21

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:21 - An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:22

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:22 - Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:23

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:23 - Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD,
and false scales are not good.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:24

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:24 - A man’s steps are from the LORD;
how then can man understand his way?

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:25

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:25 - It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:26

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:26 - A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:27

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:27 - The spirit[fn] of man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all his innermost parts.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:28

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:28 - Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:29

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:29 - The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Pro 20:30

Unchecked Copy BoxPro 20:30 - Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.
See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
ESV Footnotes
Or will not become wise
Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
Hebrew breath
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
ESV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
ESV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

Proverbs Chapter 20 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras